BEST LAYOUT ADVICE FOR ANY SCALE!

[@sonnypruitt6639]

The layout seen at 2:25 looks so realistic! Good job!

[@twiztedmowers2]

I've been wondering how to get the look for the side of a hill. O gauge brick for the bigger block look. Thanks

[@rhikdavis]

Now that's a water feature I can handle.

[@gvblack2689]

You could add John Fetterman to your Braddock scene for more authenticity! See if anyone notices. Enjoy your videos. Always hear the CSX trains all day at my Coraopolis office.

[@djstrains]

Great suggestion! I will be building the restaurant he lived above.

[@georgehasler142]

Nice video always dj

[@djstrains]

Thanks again

[@MessyMason5904]

great job!!!!

[@simonalexandercritchley439]

Your layout is looking good DJ. Good advice as usual. I paint and weather my kits as well and use a flat clear coat on anything too shiny not painted. Plastics are a bit odd that some colours look good and others artificial. Also where possible I like curved backdrops so they don't jolt the eye with right angles. Lighting is very important for realism: Martin of Marklin of Sweden covers this very well.

[@jameskoryta7197]

Great pronouncing of a sometimes difficult last name! Thank you. Enjoy all you videos DJ!

[@djstrains]

YEAY!!!!!

[@LoCoMotiveTimeTravelersDNA]

Awesome thanks for the update ! Always great to see the progress !

[@jtmonsman]

Lol, because of how well you execute some of your scenery…. I had to do a double take more than once to see if I was looking at your train or the prototype.

[@WigWagWorkshop]

Same Here

[@intermodalman123]

Hey DJ, somebody's selling N scale Derails on ebay, 2 for $2 with free shipping. I just got a pair in and I'm impressed beyond belief. They look great and they actually work

[@djstrains]

Probably my friend who made mine! Great detail!!

[@olddogg60]

Love your videos DJ. 👍 Thanks for the shout out too. Bill Griffith 😊

[@djstrains]

I sincerely appreciate you!

[@stanleym2679]

Great video ,I believe good scene make a model railroad even funny ones ,it keeps everything interesting,keep up the great work

[@djstrains]

absolutely

[@kellyorr8031]

Hi DJ, You look great in the sport coat, tie and pocket square! We need to get men back to dressing well. Great to see!!!

[@djstrains]

You were the first to comment on it, and I agree. I am really trying to grow as a person in every way. I can't always be the T shirt guy. Men's wearhouse employee Dillon picked it all out. He did great.

[@cncpgreatlakesdiv4896]

hi djj great tips thx for the video ATB TO YOU.😊😊😊👍👍

[@djstrains]

Thanks 👍

[@williamflowersrailfannerpr3808]

So real

[@Its_YourImagination]

Man that shot of the water and the trees reminds me of an old Hamm's sign...well done.

[@NYCS19339]

I wanted to duplicate the look of the large concrete arches built by the Pennsylvania Railroad in Cambridge City, Indiana. I found with a little narrowing that the Walthers HO scale road bridge worked perfectly for N scale. Totally agree about looking for what you think will work. Have you considered a video talking about dead tracks that aren't used but add detail. I think you have shown a few on your layout where a big mainline is crossed or a track goes off the edge of the layout. These help break the circular trainset look.

[@djstrains]

I'll try to cover that in a future video!! Thanks!

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

Very cool layout DJ, nice work with the backdrop! (Dave).

[@djstrains]

Many thanks!

[@johngriffin8051]

Please add Closed Captioning for the hearing impaired on all of your great videos

[@djstrains]

It shows it done on my 400 videos. This is a KZbin problem, not my problem

[@BoeingCSX.1]

Wow that’s awesome

[@KutWrite]

Wow, DJ! Your layout is so realistic at first I thought the drone video was still part of it! Nice to see my old haunt, Connellsville represented, too. Well done!

[@djstrains]

Thanks again!

[@BSNFabricating]

Great work, and ideas. And I like the effect of the water in the backdrop scene, with the trees in the foreground. It makes me want to find an excuse to try something similar, but it probably wouldn't work, since my layout is set in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. However, I do have to ask, are you sure Joe Magarac wasn't turned to steel in the great magnetic field? Okay, I'll see myself to the door...

[@kevinharris1392]

Always had a good meal at the YMCA next to the station before we changed crews. The nice ladies that worked the counter would even have it for you to go,if you put your order in before you left. Times of the past. Great service like that ,long gone.

[@markhayes6407]

I like those houses up on the hills backdrop and the rest of your models. The old Model Power kits definitely need painting but I always paint before assembly of any kit to get rid of the plastic look. I buy Wathers kits for most of my industries then I kit bash practically all of them for more realistic look. You give very good advice on modeling based on your real life experiences. Most appreciated.

[@LancesLens]

That background does look great! Great video! Thanks DJ!

[@duanesforkandspoonrr10]

Looking really good....cool you are doing an area that I have delivered to trucking....

[@nynscaler2482]

Nice work on the layout. There are some hidden gems amongst old kits. You should also ask miniprints for an n scale drone to really complete the scene.

[@sernajrlouis]

Great video

[@djstrains]

Thanks!

[@SD45-ET44AC]

That’s one awesome backdrop! I thought you were actually showing us the real thing at first only to be surprised when I realized it was truly your layout. Well done.

[@djstrains]

Thanks so much!

[@MyFingerLakesRailwayLayout]

Man this layout is gonna be cool! Lotta respect for doing this in N scale. Take care! Bill.

[@djstrains]

Thanks!

[@scottsmith7051]

Top notch layout and top notch advice. Thanks!

[@drunowakowski4880]

Looking good. It’s all about the details!

[@ericbulich9812]

Nice lookin layout

[@djstrains]

Thanks!

[@mikehowey4869]

The backdrop turned out really well!

[@espeemike3698]

Hi DJ, Excellent update of your progress! Mike

[@djstrains]

Thanks 👍

[@chickentuber]

Excellent! can you explain how you make the scratch built corrugated metal roof? It looks great.

[@djstrains]

I have a whole PLAYLIST called SCRATCHBUILDING STRUCTURES. I love styrene from plastruct and evergreen. They make it in so many varieties.

[@ericbulich9812]

Lots going on in that space and looks awesome

[@johnschutt9187]

Great work! Thanks. (The site is Patreon. Aren't your supporters called patrons?)

[@djstrains]

It doesn't matter, what matters is that they support me and I do my best to show them gratitude and value. You should join.

[@jeffbyland7128]

Everything is looking good on the layout appreciate you showing And explain the details as you build

[@djstrains]

Glad you like it

[@jasonminier6782]

Man that is looking awesome DJ! Thank you for the inspiration and instructions.❤️

[@djstrains]

Any time!

[@daletowler1354]

DJ strains are still working for the R.R., I'am still looking for some SD-45 in N scale

[@djstrains]

I am still with CSX since 2/14/99

[@kinnywolf2862]

Great layout and video

[@bobainsworth5057]

Looking good DJ.

[@Edward92546]

Another great video, DJ. Work is progressing slowly on my first layout. I finished the benchwork and laid down the plywood and Styrofoam. I'm now almost done with laying the tracks how I want them. Then I'll trace them, remove them, and start the scenery. Slow going for this 76 year old Newbie.

[@djstrains]

I hope my videos help

[@Edward92546]

@@djstrains They certainly do help. The tutorials are easy to follow. The insights into the real railroads puts things in perspective. The videos are nicely done with clear visuals and understandable audio. And you enthusiasm is contagious. (BTW, I now own a CSX locomotive.)

[@stevengibbs1378]

Awesome job. Love the details you've put on your layout.

[@djstrains]

Thank you very much!

[@spencerbass7142]

Nice

[@ericbulich9812]

Nice layout, how big is your layout buddy?

[@djstrains]

13' x 12'

[@Stussmeister]

Very interesting and informative. My question is, would a backdrop be necessary/advisable on a layout like mine that is in a central location and not up against any walls?

[@djstrains]

Probably not. Maybe if you wanted to separate the scenes.

[@Stussmeister]

@@djstrains That could work, though I'll likely already have mountains and forests to separate areas from each other.

[@lesterlattig]

DJ, do you ever weather your locomotives?

[@djstrains]

My union railroad ones I did, I haven’t got around to the new Csx and NS ones yet

[@jimbrent8151]

Awesome Thank you for sharing.

[@djstrains]

Thanks for watching!

[@Unsound_advice]

6:42 looks like the van was called away again.

[@djstrains]

HAHAHA

[@ronchickadel5837]

Thanks!

[@djstrains]

THANK YOU, MY FRIEND!!!

[@billymcnutt116]

Nice layout 👍

[@djstrains]

Thanks!

[@aidanschultz6710]

Getting into this hobby. What scale is the easiest to work with. I heard ho scale is perfect

[@johnm8425]

There are LOTS of websites, articles and videos on this very topic. As someone who has model railroaded in everything from N to G scale, I would say it comes down to what you want to be able to do with your model railroad and what scale best suits that goal, as well as what is comfortable for you. I was a long time fan of N scale but as my eyesight slowly gets worse I find it is easier to handle the larger scale models.

[@djstrains]

Every scale has its advantages and disadvantages. I prefer N for scenery and long distances, I like HO for detail, I like O for the impressiveness of its size. Go by what You and You alone think works best for you.

[@RocktCityTim]

Thanks for sharing these ideas!

[@djstrains]

You are so welcome!

[@ronaldrondeau7870]

always fun to watch thanks

[@djstrains]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@nitrorrat8190]

Awesome layout sir

[@djstrains]

Many thanks

[@SFCRambo60]

Looks great and great ideas

[@djstrains]

Thanks so much!

[@keithmoore5306]

that yellow railing and crawler crane need some weathering!

[@djstrains]

I'm on it! Lol

[@keithmoore5306]

@@djstrains i don't know why but the shades of yellow these companies choose is always way too bright for the scenes the stuff is used in!

[@nitrorrat8190]

I have a question sir how do you tell the difference between power supply if its for ho or n scale dose it mater

[@djstrains]

Doesn’t matter

[@nitrorrat8190]

@@djstrains thank you for the information appreciate it

[@nitrorrat8190]

Hi I have a question I'm trying to figure out how long to cut fence posts for n scale not having any luck any help would be appreciated thank you

[@djstrains]

@@nitrorrat8190 Normally I would say to use a scale ruler, but I think in this case, use surrounding details. Is it a farm? Make it the height of a cow, etc. Sometimes things in scale don't look right, so go by whatever looks right. Its how I decide on 90% of my scratch builds.

[@nitrorrat8190]

Ok thank you appreciate it

[@bxjibaro73]

@djstrains - why did you choose HO SCALE? Was it a decision regarding "layout space" or preference for HO SCALE?

[@djstrains]

I'm N Scale. I get the most scenery in a small space